Notice of Funding Opportunity for Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds, 44243-44249 [2017-20111]

Agencies

• Federal Highway Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44243-44249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20111]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2017-0021]


Notice of Funding Opportunity for Tribal Transportation Program 
Safety Funds

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a funding opportunity and requests grant 
applications for FHWA's Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds 
(TTPSF) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 and FY 2018 funding, subject to 
future appropriations. In addition, this notice identifies selection 
criteria, application requirements, and technical assistance during the 
grant solicitation period for the TTPSF.
    The TTPSF is authorized within the Tribal Transportation Program 
(TTP) under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The 
FHWA will distribute these funds as described in this notice on a 
competitive basis in a manner consistent with the selection criteria.

DATES: Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 
11:59 p.m., e.t. on December 11, 2017 (the ``application deadline''). 
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications in advance of the 
application deadline; however, applications will not be evaluated, and 
awards will not be made until after the application deadline. The FHWA 
plans to conduct outreach regarding the TTPSF in the form of a Webinar 
on October 17, 2017, 2 p.m., e.t. To join the webinar, follow the 
directions found at https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. The audio portion of the Webinar can be accessed from this 
teleconference line: TOLL FREE 1-888-251-2909; ACCESS CODE 4442306. The 
Webinar will be recorded and posted on FHWA's Web site at: https://www.flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/. A TDD is available for 
individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-3993.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically through the 
Web site: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning 
this notice please contact Russell Garcia, TTPSF Program Manager, via 
email at russell.garcia@dot.gov; by telephone at (202) 366-9815; or by 
mail at Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. For legal 
questions, please contact Ms. Vivian Philbin, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, by telephone at (720) 963-3445; by email at 
vivian.philbin@dot.gov; or by mail at Federal Highway Administration, 
Central Federal Lands Highway Division, 12300 West Dakota Avenue, 
Lakewood, CO 80228. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. m.t., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On August 5, 2013, FHWA published the first notice of funding 
availability for the TTPSF (78 FR 47480). On November 13, 2013, FHWA 
awarded 183 Tribes a total of $8.6 million for 193 safety projects. On 
May 14, 2014, FHWA published the second notice of funding availability 
for the TTPSF (79 FR 27676). On March 10, 2015, FHWA awarded 82 Tribes 
a total of $8.5 million for 94 projects to improve transportation 
safety on Tribal lands. On June 26, 2015, FHWA published the third 
notice of funding availability for the TTPSF (80 FR 36885). On December 
9, 2015, FHWA awarded 36 Tribes a total of $449,500 for 36 projects for 
developing Tribal safety plans. On April 26, 2016, FHWA awarded 35 
Tribes a total of $8 million for 54 projects. On July 18, 2016, FHWA 
published the fourth notice of funding opportunity for the TTPSF (81 FR 
46758). On April 10, 2017, FHWA awarded 74 Tribes a total of $9 million 
for 77 projects. The FHWA is publishing this fifth notice to announce 
an additional round of funding and request grant applications for 
FY2017 and FY 2018.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
    1. Eligible Applicants
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching
D. Application and Submission Information
    1. Address To Request Application Package
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission
    3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management 
(SAM)
    4. Submission Dates and Time
    5. Intergovernmental Review
    6. Funding Restrictions
    7. Other Submission Requirements
E. Application Review Information
    1. Criteria
    i. Safety Plans
    ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
    iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities
    2. Review and Selection Process
    i. Safety Plans
    ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
    iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities
F. Federal Award Administration Information
    1. Federal Award Notice
    2. Administrative and National Policy
    3. Reporting
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
H. Other Information
    1. Protection of Confidential Business Information

[[Page 44244]]

A. Program Description

    Since the TTPSF was created under Moving Ahead for Progress in the 
21st Century Act (MAP-21), FHWA has awarded approximately $34.5 million 
to 410 Indian Tribes for 454 projects, including development of safety 
plans, to address safety issues in Indian country over four rounds of 
competitive grants. The intent of the TTPSF is to prevent and reduce 
deaths or serious injuries in transportation-related crashes on Tribal 
lands where statistics are consistently higher than the rest of the 
Nation as a whole.
    The TTPSF emphasizes the development of strategic Transportation 
Safety Plans using a data-driven process as a means for Tribes to 
determine how transportation safety needs will be addressed in Tribal 
communities. Tribal Transportation Safety Plans are a tool used to 
identify risk factors that lead to serious injury or death and organize 
various entities to strategically reduce risk; projects submitted must 
be data-driven, must be consistent with a comprehensive safety 
strategy, and must correct or improve a hazardous road location or 
feature or address a highway safety problem.
    Because safety data is considered critical for informed 
transportation safety decisions, the TTPSF also places an emphasis on 
assessment and improvement of traffic records systems (primarily crash 
data systems). Guidelines for conducting a traffic records assessment 
can be found in the Guide for Effective Tribal Crash Reporting, 
National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 788, published by 
the Transportation Research Board at https://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171540.aspx.
    Successful TTPSF projects leverage resources, encourage 
partnership, and have the data to support the applicants' approach in 
addressing the prevention and reduction of death or serious injuries in 
transportation-related crashes. A listing of the TTPSF projects/
activities that Tribes were previously awarded, answers to frequently 
asked questions, and additional safety-related information can be found 
on the TTP Safety Web site at https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. However, the FAST Act made changes to the types of 
projects and activities that are now eligible for TTPSF grants.
    Under MAP-21, the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) 
included a range of eligible HSIP projects. The list of eligible 
projects was non-exhaustive, and a State could use HSIP funds on any 
safety project (infrastructure-related or non-infrastructure) that met 
the overarching requirements that the project be consistent with the 
State's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) and correct or improve a 
hazardous road location or feature or address a highway safety problem. 
Although the FAST Act continued these overarching requirements under 
HSIP, it limited eligibility to the projects and activities listed in 
23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4), most of which are infrastructure-safety related.
    As a result of the FAST Act, the TTPSF will only fund highway 
safety improvement projects eligible under the HSIP as listed in 23 
U.S.C. 148(a)(4). For purposes of awarding funds under this program in 
FY 2017, FHWA has identified three eligibility categories: Safety 
plans; data assessment, improvement, and analysis activities; and 
infrastructure improvements and other eligible activities as listed in 
23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4).

B. Federal Award Information

    The FAST Act authorized TTPSF as a set aside of not more than 2 
percent of the funds made available under the TTP for each fiscal year. 
This notice of funding opportunity solicits proposals under the TTPSF 
for FY 2017 and FY 2018 funding, subject to future appropriations. 
Section 202(e) of title 23, United States Code, provides that the 
Secretary shall allocate funds based on an identification and analysis 
of highway safety issues and opportunities on Tribal lands, as 
determined by the Secretary, on application of the Indian Tribal 
governments for HSIP eligible projects described in 23 U.S.C. 
148(a)(4). Eligible projects described in section 148(a)(4) include 
strategies, activities, and projects on a public road that are 
consistent with a transportation safety plan; safety study; road safety 
audit; or systemic safety study and correct or improve a hazardous road 
location or feature, or address a highway safety problem.
    Under 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4), eligible projects are limited to the 
following:
    (i) An intersection safety improvement.
    (ii) Pavement and shoulder widening (including addition of a 
passing lane to remedy an unsafe condition).
    (iii) Installation of rumble strips or another warning device, if 
the rumble strips or other warning devices do not adversely affect the 
safety or mobility of bicyclists and pedestrians, including persons 
with disabilities.
    (iv) Installation of a skid-resistant surface at an intersection or 
other location with a high frequency of crashes.
    (v) An improvement for pedestrian or bicyclist safety or safety of 
persons with disabilities.
    (vi) Construction and improvement of a railway-highway grade 
crossing safety feature, including installation of protective devices.
    (vii) The conduct of a model traffic enforcement activity at a 
railway-highway crossing.
    (viii) Construction of a traffic calming feature.
    (ix) Elimination of a roadside hazard.
    (x) Installation, replacement, and other improvement of highway 
signage and pavement markings, or a project to maintain minimum levels 
of retroreflectivity, that addresses a highway safety problem 
consistent with an SHSP.
    (xi) Installation of a priority control system for emergency 
vehicles at signalized intersections.
    (xii) Installation of a traffic control or other warning device at 
a location with high crash potential.
    (xiii) Transportation safety planning.
    (xiv) Collection, analysis, and improvement of safety data.
    (xv) Planning integrated interoperable emergency communications 
equipment, operational activities, or traffic enforcement activities 
(including police assistance) relating to work zone safety.
    (xvi) Installation of guardrails, barriers (including barriers 
between construction work zones and traffic lanes for the safety of 
road users and workers), and crash attenuators.
    (xvii) The addition or retrofitting of structures or other measures 
to eliminate or reduce crashes involving vehicles and wildlife.
    (xviii) Installation of yellow-green signs and signals at 
pedestrian and bicycle crossings and in school zones.
    (xix) Construction and operational improvements on high risk rural 
roads.
    (xx) Geometric improvements to a road for safety purposes that 
improve safety.
    (xxi) A road safety audit.
    (xxii) Roadway safety infrastructure improvements consistent with 
the recommendations included in the publication of the Federal Highway 
Administration entitled ``Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and 
Pedestrians'' (FHWA-RD-01-103), dated May 2001 or as subsequently 
revised and updated.
    (xxiii) Truck parking facilities eligible for funding under section 
1401 of the MAP-21.
    (xxiv) Systemic safety improvements.
    (xxv) Installation of vehicle-to-infrastructure communication 
equipment.
    (xxvi) Pedestrian hybrid beacons.

[[Page 44245]]

    (xxvii) Roadway improvements that provide separation between 
pedestrians and motor vehicles, including medians and pedestrian 
crossing islands.
    (xxviii) A physical infrastructure safety project not described in 
clauses (i) through (xxvii).
    For more information regarding eligible activities under HSIP, 
please see FHWA guidance at: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/legislationandpolicy/fast/guidance.cfm https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/rulemaking/docs/hsip_ig42216_final.pdf.
    Upon award, successful applicants will receive the TTPSF funds 
through their existing TTP contracting methodology with either the FHWA 
or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Upon completion of a TTPSF project, 
funds that are not expended are to be recovered and returned to the 
FHWA to be made available for the following year's TTPSF grant cycle.

C. Eligibility Information

    To be selected for a TTPSF award, an applicant must be a federally 
recognized Indian Tribe and the project must be an eligible project.

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants for TTPSF discretionary grants are federally 
recognized Tribes identified on the list of ``Indian Entities 
Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs'' (published at 81 FR 26826). Other entities may partner with a 
Tribal government to submit an application, but the eligible applicant 
must be a federally recognized Indian Tribe. A Tribe may submit more 
than one application; however, only one project may be included in each 
application.
    Recipients of prior TTPSF funds may submit applications during this 
current round according to the selection criteria. However, to be 
competitive, the applicant should demonstrate the extent to which the 
previously funded project or projects has been able to meet estimated 
project schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the 
outcomes for previous awards.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    There is no matching requirement for the TTPSF. However, if the 
total amount of funding requested for applications rated ``highly 
qualified'' or ``qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding, 
FHWA will give priority consideration to those projects that show a 
commitment of other funding sources to complement the TTPSF funding 
request. Therefore, leveraging a TTPSF request with other funding 
sources identified in Section E is encouraged. Additional information 
about leveraging funds can be found in the frequently asked questions 
section of the TTPSF Web site: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Application package can be downloaded from the TTPSF Web site: 
https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. For a Telephone 
Device for the Deaf (TDD) please call 202-366-3993. The applications 
must be submitted electronically through the following Web site: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. Applicants are 
encouraged to submit applications in advance of the application 
deadline; however, applications will not be evaluated, and awards will 
not be made until after the application deadline.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    The FHWA may request additional information, including additional 
data, to clarify an application, but FHWA encourages applicants to 
submit the most relevant and complete information they can provide. The 
FHWA also encourages applicants, to the extent practicable, to provide 
data and evidence of project merits in a form that is publicly 
available or verifiable.
    The applicants must include the following information in their 
online application package:
i. Online Form
    Fill out an online form similar to SF-424 at: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm.
    A preview of the online application can also be found on the Web 
site.
ii. Letter of Support
    For projects located on a facility not owned by BIA or a Tribe a 
letter of support for the project is required.
iii. Cost Breakdown
    An estimate of the costs in the project should be clearly 
identified in the project narrative or as an attachment to the project 
narrative.
iv. Narrative
    Applicants must attach project narrative to their online 
application form to successfully complete the application process. 
Applicants must include the project narrative in the attachments 
section of the online application form.
    Applicants must identify the eligibility category for which they 
are seeking funds in the project narrative. In addition, applicants 
should address each question or statement in their applications. It is 
recommended that applicants use standard formatting (e.g., a single-
spaced document, using a standard 12-point font, such as Times New 
Roman, with 1-inch margins) to prepare their application narratives. An 
application must include any information needed to verify that the 
project meets the statutory eligibility criteria in order for the FHWA 
to evaluate the application against TTPSF rating criteria.
    Applicants should demonstrate the responsiveness of their proposals 
to any pertinent selection criteria with the most relevant information 
that applicants can provide, and substantiated by data, regardless of 
whether such information is specifically requested, or identified, in 
the final notice. Applicants should provide evidence of the feasibility 
of achieving certain project milestones, financial capacity, and 
commitment in order to support project readiness.
    Consistent with the requirements for an eligible highway safety 
improvement project under 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4), applicants must describe 
clearly how their project would correct or improve a hazardous road 
location or feature, or would address a highway safety problem. The 
application must include supporting data. Formal safety data is limited 
in many Tribal areas; applicants should support their application with 
documentation summarizing the best available data that demonstrates a 
history or risk of transportation incidents which are expected to be 
reduced by the proposed activity. The optimal data is a summary of 
police crash reports. However, where police crash reports are not 
available, news articles, written testimonies, a letter from local law 
enforcement describing safety performance, health data on injuries, and 
other documentation of incident history can be accepted. Average daily 
traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes, traffic citation statistics, 
public surveys, and sign inventories are examples of alternative safety 
data sources which could be used to supplement incident history.
    If police crash reports are not available to support a project 
application, then-FHWA strongly encourages federally recognized Tribes 
to conduct an assessment of traffic records (which is an eligible 
activity for TTPSF). Applicants that do not provide

[[Page 44246]]

formal crash data are encouraged to attach documentation to their 
application showing that a traffic records assessment has been 
conducted or is planned. Guidelines for conducting a traffic records 
assessment can be found in the Guide for Effective Tribal Crash 
Reporting, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 788, 
published by the Transportation Research Board in 2015 at https://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171540.aspx.
    The data that should support an application varies by project type, 
as follows:
     For safety plans: There is no requirement to submit data 
with the application. However, development of safety plans should 
include and be based on an analysis of incident history.
     For traffic records assessments and improvements: 
Supporting data should be an estimate of the data to be collected (such 
as approximate number of crashes per year) and a description of any 
process currently used to collect that data.
     For Road Safety Audits (RSA): Site specific data should be 
submitted which demonstrates an incident history or propensity on the 
specific roadway to be analyzed.
     For Systemic Safety Studies: Data should be provided which 
demonstrates an incident history associated with the risk factor to be 
studied.
     For Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible 
Activities: Good data is site specific data that describes the crash 
history and directly demonstrates the safety need. When site specific 
incident data is not available, some data must still be provided which 
demonstrates the safety risk to be mitigated; this data could be an 
area-wide incident history (such as the results of a systemic safety 
study) or an explanation that an incident history is not available 
along with some supporting data from an alternative safety data source 
as described above.
    The FHWA recommends that the project narrative generally adhere to 
the following basic outline, and include a table of contents, project 
abstract, maps, and graphics:
    a. Project Abstract: Describe project work that would be completed 
under the project, the hazardous road location or feature or the 
highway safety problem that the project would address, and whether the 
project is a complete project or part of a larger project with prior 
investment (maximum five sentences). The project abstract must 
succinctly describe how this specific request for TTPSF would be used 
to complete the project;
    b. Project Description: Include information on the expected users 
of the project, a description of the hazardous road location or feature 
or the highway safety problem that the project would address, and how 
the project would address these challenges;
    c. Applicant information and coordination with other entities: 
Identify the Indian Tribal government applying for TTPSF, a description 
of cooperation with other entities in selecting projects from the TIP 
as required under 23 U.S.C. 202(e)(2), and information regarding any 
other entities involved in the project;
    d. Grant Funds and Sources/Uses of Project Funds: Include 
information about the amount of grant funding requested for the 
project, availability/commitment of funds sources and uses of all 
project funds, total project costs, percentage of project costs that 
would be paid for with the TTPSF, and the identity and percentage 
shares of all parties providing funds for the project (including 
Federal funds provided under other programs); and
    e. Include a description of how the proposal meets the Selection 
Criteria identified in Section E, Subsection 1 Criteria.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

    Each applicant must: (1) Be registered in SAM before submitting its 
application; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its 
application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration 
with current information at all times during which it has an active 
Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a 
Federal awarding agency. The USDOT may not make an TTPSF grant to an 
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique 
entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not 
fully complied with the requirements by the time USDOT is ready to make 
an TTPSF grant, USDOT may determine that the applicant is not qualified 
to receive an TTPSF grant and use that determination as a basis for 
making an TTPSF grant to another applicant. Information on SAM can be 
found at https://www.sam.gov. It typically takes 7-10 business days for 
the SAM registration process to be completed.

4. Submission Dates and Time

    i. Deadline--Applications must be submitted electronically no later 
than 11:59 p.m., e.t. on December 11, 2017 (the ``application 
deadline'').
    ii. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications in advance of 
the application deadline; however, applications will not be evaluated, 
and awards will not be made until after the application deadline.
    iii. Upon submission of the applications electronically through the 
following Web site: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm, the applicants will be sent an automatic reply by email 
confirming transmittal of the application to the FHWA. Please contact 
Russell Garcia at (202) 366-9815, should you not receive any 
confirmation from the FHWA.
    iv. Late Applications--Applications received after the deadline 
will not be considered except in the case of unforeseen technical 
difficulties that are beyond the applicant's control. The FHWA will 
consider late applications on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are 
encouraged to submit additional information documenting the technical 
difficulties experienced, including a screen capture of any error 
messages received.

5. Intergovernmental Review

    The TTPSF is not subject to the Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.

6. Funding Restrictions

    There are no funding restrictions on any applications. However, 
FHWA anticipates high demand for this limited amount of funding and 
encourages applications with scalable requests that allow more Tribes 
to receive funding and for requests that identify a commitment of other 
funding sources to complement the TTPSF funding request. Applicants 
should clearly demonstrate the independent components of each project 
that can be completed if only partial funding is provided. Applicants 
should demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed 
request in a timely manner, and ensure that cost estimates and 
timelines to complete deliverables are included in their applications.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    The FHWA will award TTPSF funds based on the selection criteria and 
policy considerations as outlined below. However, to be competitive, 
the applicant should demonstrate the extent to which a previously 
funded project or projects has been able to meet estimated project 
schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the outcomes 
for previous awards.
    The FHWA intends to allocate the TTPSF between three categories as 
follows: (1) Safety plans; (2) data

[[Page 44247]]

assessment, improvement, and analysis activities; and (3) 
infrastructure improvement and other eligible activities as listed in 
23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4).
i. Safety Plans
    The development of a Tribal safety plan that is data-driven, 
identifies transportation safety issues, prioritizes activities, is 
coordinated with the State SHSP (all State SHSPs can be found at: 
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/shsp/state_links.cfm), and promotes a 
comprehensive approach to addressing safety needs by including all 4Es, 
is a critical step in improving highway safety. Additional information 
on developing a Tribal safety plan can be found at: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/. Accordingly, FHWA will award 
TTPSF for developing and updating Tribal safety plans. The FHWA will 
use the following criteria in the evaluation of TTPSF funding requests 
for Tribal safety plans: (1) Development of a Tribal safety plan where 
none currently exists, and (2) age or status of an existing Tribal 
safety plan.
ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
    The FHWA will use the following criteria in the evaluation of TTPSF 
funding requests for data assessment, improvement, and analysis 
activities: (1) Inclusion of the activity in a completed State SHSP or 
Tribal transportation safety plan; (2) submission of supporting data 
that demonstrates the need for the activity; (3) leveraging of private 
or other public funding; or (4) the project is part of a comprehensive 
approach to safety which includes other safety efforts.
    Examples of eligible data assessment, improvement, and analysis 
activities include:
     Collection, analysis, and improvement of safety data;
     Systemic safety studies; and
     Road safety audits/assessments.
iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities as Listed 
in 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4)
    The FHWA will use the following criteria in the evaluation of 
funding requests under this category: (1) Inclusion of the project or 
activity in a completed State SHSP or Tribal transportation safety 
plan, or inclusion of the activity in a completed road safety audit, 
engineering study, impact assessment or other engineering document; (2) 
submission of supporting data that demonstrates the need for the 
project; (3) ownership of the facility, if applicable; (4) leveraging 
of private or other public funding; (5) time elapsed since the Tribe 
has last received funding for a TTPSF engineering improvement project, 
if applicable; or (6) the project is part of a comprehensive approach 
to safety which includes other safety efforts.
    Examples of infrastructure improvement and other eligible 
activities:
     An intersection safety improvement;
     Pavement and shoulder widening (including addition of a 
passing lane to remedy an unsafe condition);
     Installation of rumble strips or another warning device, 
if the rumble strips or other warning devices do not adversely affect 
the safety or mobility of bicyclists and pedestrians, including persons 
with disabilities;
     Installation of a skid-resistant surface at an 
intersection or other location with a high frequency of crashes;
     An improvement for pedestrian or bicyclist safety or 
safety of persons with disabilities;
     Construction and improvement of a railway-highway grade 
crossing safety feature, including installation of protective devices;
     The conduct of a model traffic enforcement activity at a 
railway-highway crossing;
     Construction of a traffic calming feature;
     Elimination of a roadside hazard;
     Installation, replacement, and other improvement of 
highway signage and pavement markings, or a project to maintain minimum 
levels of retroreflectivity that addresses a highway safety problem 
consistent with a Tribal or State strategic highway safety plan;
     Installation of a priority control system for emergency 
vehicles at signalized intersections;
     Installation of a traffic control or other warning device 
at a location with high crash potential;
     Planning integrated interoperable emergency communications 
equipment, operational activities, or traffic enforcement activities 
(including police assistance) relating to work zone safety;
     Installation of guardrails, barriers (including barriers 
between construction work zones and traffic lanes for the safety of 
road users and workers), and crash attenuators;
     The addition or retrofitting of structures or other 
measures to eliminate or reduce crashes involving vehicles and 
wildlife;
     Installation of yellow-green signs and signals at 
pedestrian and bicycle crossings and in school zones;
     Construction and operational improvements on high risk 
rural roads;
     Geometric improvements to a road for safety purposes that 
improve safety;
     Roadway safety infrastructure improvements consistent with 
the recommendations included in the FHWA publication entitled ``Highway 
Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians'' (FHWA-RD-01-103, 
dated May 2001 or as subsequently revised and updated;
     Truck parking facilities eligible for funding under 
section 1401 of MAP-21;
     Systemic safety improvements;
     Installation of a vehicle to infrastructure communication 
equipment;
     Pedestrian hybrid beacons;
     Roadway improvements that provide separation between 
pedestrians and motor vehicles, including medians and pedestrian 
crossing islands; and
     Other physical infrastructure safety projects.

2. Review and Selection Process

    The TTPSF grant applications will be evaluated in accordance with 
evaluation process discussed below. The FHWA will establish an 
evaluation team to review each application received by FHWA prior to 
the application deadline. The FHWA will lead the evaluation team, which 
will include members from the BIA. The evaluation team will include 
technical and professional staff with relevant experience and expertise 
in Tribal transportation safety issues. The evaluation team will be 
responsible for evaluating and rating all eligible projects. The 
evaluation team will review each application against the evaluation 
criteria in each of the categories and assign a rating of ``Highly 
Qualified,'' ``Qualified,'' or ``Not Qualified'' to each application 
for the FHWA Administrator's review. The FHWA Administrator will 
forward funding recommendations to the Office of the Secretary. The 
final funding decisions will be made by the Secretary of 
Transportation.
    All applications will be evaluated and assigned a rating of 
``Highly Qualified,'' ``Qualified,'' or ``Not Qualified.'' The ratings, 
as defined below, are proposed within each priority funding category as 
follows:
i. Safety Plans \1\
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    \1\ The development of a Tribal safety plan is the cornerstone 
for all future Tribal safety activities. Because of the importance 
of developing, completing, or updating a Tribal safety plan and for 
this one category only, applications will be deemed either ``highly 
qualified'' or ``not qualified.'' All applications to develop a new 
Tribal safety plan, update an incomplete safety plan, or update an 
existing Tribal safety plan that is at least 3 years old are deemed 
to be highly qualified. Applications not directed to developing, 
updating or completing existing a Tribal safety plan or which 
address a plan not 3 years old or older are deemed ``Not 
Qualified.''
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    a. Highly Qualified: Requests (up to a maximum of $12,500) for 
development

[[Page 44248]]

of new Tribal safety plans or to update incomplete Tribal safety plans; 
and requests (up to a maximum of $7,500) to update existing Tribal 
safety plans that are at least 3 years old.
    b. Not Qualified: Projects that do not meet the eligibility 
requirements; any request to update an existing Tribal safety plan that 
is less than 3 years old.
ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
    a. Highly Qualified: Requests for Data Assessment, Improvement, and 
Analysis Activities that are in a current State SHSP or Tribal safety 
plan that is not more than 5 years old; submission of data that 
demonstrates the need for the activities; and significant leveraging of 
TTPSF fund with private or public funding or are part of a 
comprehensive approach to safety which includes other safety efforts. 
If the total amount of funding requested for applications rated as 
``highly qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding, FHWA will 
give priority funding consideration to one or more independent 
components of a highly qualified project. To be eligible, a component 
must meet eligibility criteria and must be a transportation safety 
project that has independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable 
expenditure of Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in 
the area). In other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a 
project, instead of the full project described in the application, only 
if that component provides transportation benefits and will be ready 
for its intended use upon completion of that component.
    Applicants should be aware that while it is anticipated that most 
of these projects will be categorical exclusions because they do not 
lead to construction or have potentially significant traffic or other 
impacts, depending on the relationship between the overall project and 
the independent component, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
review for the independent component may have to include evaluation of 
all project components as connected, similar, or cumulative actions, as 
detailed at 40 CFR 1508.25. Priority consideration will also be given 
to funding requests that include a commitment of other funding sources 
to complement the TTPSF, and those requests where the applicants 
demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed project 
in a timely manner.
    b. Qualified: Requests for Data Assessment, Improvement, and 
Analysis Activities that are in a current State SHSP or Tribal safety 
plan; submission of some data that demonstrates the need for the 
activity; and some leveraging of TTPSF funds with private or public 
funding or is part of a comprehensive approach to safety which includes 
other safety efforts.
    If the total amount of funding requested for applications rated as 
``qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding, FHWA will give 
priority funding consideration to one or more independent components of 
a qualified project. To be eligible, a component must meet eligibility 
criteria and must be a transportation safety project that has 
independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable expenditure of 
Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in the area). In 
other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a project, 
instead of the full project described in the application, only if that 
component provides transportation benefits and will be ready for its 
intended use upon completion of that component. Applicants should be 
aware that while it is anticipated that most of these projects will be 
categorical exclusions because they do not lead to construction or have 
potentially significant traffic or other impacts, depending on the 
relationship between the overall project and the independent component, 
the NEPA review for the independent component may have to include 
evaluation of all project components as connected, similar, or 
cumulative actions, as detailed at 40 CFR 1508.25. Priority 
consideration will also be given to funding requests that include a 
commitment of other funding sources to complement the TTPSF, and those 
requests where the applicants demonstrate the capacity to successfully 
implement the proposed project in a timely manner.
    c. Not Qualified: Projects that do not meet the eligibility 
requirements; or projects that are not included in a State SHSP or 
Tribal safety plan.
iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities as Listed 
in 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4)
    a. Highly Qualified: Efforts that are in a current State SHSP or 
Tribal safety plan that is less than 5 years old, or road safety audit, 
or impact assessment, or other safety engineering study; data included 
in the application that directly supports the project; projects located 
on a BIA or Tribal facility; significant leveraging of TTPSF funds with 
other funding; and the Tribe has not received funding for a TTPSF 
transportation safety construction project in more than 5 years or the 
project is part of a comprehensive approach to safety which includes 
three or more other safety efforts.
    If the total amount of funding requested for applications rated as 
``highly qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding, FHWA will 
give priority funding consideration to one or more independent 
components of a highly qualified project. To be eligible, a component 
must meet eligibility criteria and must be a transportation improvement 
that has independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable 
expenditure of Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in 
the area). In other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a 
project, instead of the full project described in the application, only 
if that component provides transportation benefits and will be ready 
for its intended use upon completion of that component's construction. 
Applicants should be aware that, depending on the relationship between 
the overall project and the independent component, the NEPA review for 
the independent component may have to include evaluation of all project 
components as connected, similar, or cumulative actions, as detailed at 
40 CFR 1508.25. Priority consideration will also be given to funding 
requests that include a commitment of other funding sources to 
complement the TTPSF, and those requests where the applicants 
demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed project 
in a timely manner.
    b. Qualified: Efforts that are in a current State SHSP or Tribal 
safety plan, or a road safety audit, or impact assessment, or other 
safety engineering study; some data included in the application that 
supports the project; project is located on a transportation facility 
not owned by a Tribe or BIA; and some leveraging of TTPSF funds with 
other funding; or is part of a coordinated approach with one or two 
other safety efforts. If the total amount of funding requested for 
applications rated as ``qualified'' exceeds the amount of available 
funding, FHWA will give priority funding consideration to funding one 
or more independent components of a qualified project. To be eligible, 
a component must meet eligibility criteria and must be a transportation 
improvement that has

[[Page 44249]]

independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable expenditure of 
Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in the area). In 
other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a project, 
instead of the full project described in the application, only if that 
component provides transportation benefits and will be ready for its 
intended use upon completion of that component's construction. 
Applicants should be aware that, depending on the relationship between 
the overall project and the independent component, the NEPA review for 
the independent component may have to include evaluation of all project 
components as connected, similar, or cumulative actions, as detailed at 
40 CFR 1508.25. Priority consideration will also be given to funding 
requests that include a commitment of other funding sources to 
complement the TTPSF, and those requests where the applicants 
demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed project 
in a timely manner.
    c. Not Qualified: Projects that do not meet the eligibility 
requirements; are not included in a State SHSP or Tribal safety plan, 
or a road safety audit, or impact assessment, or other safety 
engineering study; no data provided in the application to support the 
request; or do not have a comprehensive approach to safety with other 
partners.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notice

    The FHWA will announce the awarded projects by posting a list of 
selected projects at https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/. 
Following the announcement, successful applicants and unsuccessful 
applicants will be notified separately.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards found in 2 CFR part 200. Applicable Federal laws, 
rules, and regulations set forth in title 23, U.S.C., and title 23 of 
the CFR apply.
    The TTPSF will be administered the same way as all TTP funds: FHWA 
Agreement Tribes will receive funds in accordance with their Program 
Agreement through a Referenced Funding Agreement (RFA); BIA Agreement 
Tribes will receive their funds through their BIA Regional Office; and 
Compact Tribes will receive their funds through the Department of the 
Interior's Office of Self Governance.

3. Reporting

    Required reporting follows the requirements for regular TTP funds.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

    For further information concerning this notice please contact 
Russell Garcia, TTPSF Program Manager, via email at 
russell.garcia@dot.gov; by telephone at (202) 366-9815; or by mail at 
Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. For legal questions, please 
contact Ms. Vivian Philbin, Office of the Chief Counsel, by telephone 
at (720) 963-3445; by email at vivian.philbin@dot.gov; or by mail at 
Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division, 
12300 West Dakota Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80228. Office hours are from 
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. m.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

H. Other Information

1. Protection of Confidential Business Information

    All information submitted as part of or in support of any 
application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made 
public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and 
standards, to the extent possible. If the application includes 
information you consider to be a trade secret or confidential 
commercial or financial information, the applicant should do the 
following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission ``Contains 
Confidential Business Information (CBI),'' (2) mark each affected page 
``CBI,'' and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions.

    Authority: Section 1118 of Pub. L. 114-94; 23 U.S.C. 202(e).

    Issued on: September 14, 2017.
Brandye Hendrickson,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-20111 Filed 9-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P